Apparatus for straightening linotype matrix-dies.



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Patented Nov. 7, I899. APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING LINOTYPE MATRIX DIES.

(Application filed June 10, 189B.)

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CARL A. NELSON, OF BINGI-IAMTON, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING LINOTYPE MATRIX-DIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,686, dated November '7, 1899.

Application filed June 10, 1898. Serial No. 683,088- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LOARL A.NELSON,of Binghamton, in the county of Broome, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Straightening Linotype MatriX-Dies,of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a full,clear,and exact description.

Myinvention relates to means, devices, and appliances for truing-up or straightening linotype matrix-dies, so that when assembled in line side by side they will fit closely and tightly together, preventing any leakage or fiow of the type-metal into the spaces between them, creating objectionable fins and burs upon the slugs or linotypes.

Each die consists of a flat plate having in one edge an intaglio or female letter. This intaglio is surrounded by inwardly beveled or sloping walls or dams which retain the liquid metal and create the shoulders around each letter and also permit the ready withdrawal of the cast type-letter or linotype. These dams, especially those which are in extensions of the sides or meeting faces of the dies, are very light and easily bent inwardly, so that their outer faces will not meet the like faces of the walls of an adjoining die, or out wardly, so that said outer meeting faces of adjoining dies will meet and hold the sides apart, creating uneven spacing of the letters, and in some instances permitting the typemetal to flow between the dies, either creating a bur or fin, which must be removed from the linotype, or in some instances operating as a solder to secure two dies together.

My object is to remedy these and other defects, difficulties, and obstacles, comprising a swaging-die, or rather a set of swaging-dies or shapers, each shaper being adapted to be used in connection with certain letters, signs, symbols, or characters, their form being varied according to the formation of said letters, 850., but all operating separately to swage said dams singly and restore them to their normal shape and condition, suitable means being provided to reciprocate said shapers and to vary the amount of force exerted upon any dam. These dies are usually of brass or other metal, and the expansion of the thin dams by the heat of the molten metal in casthad to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a form of press, showing a gage or matrix-guide upon the bed and in position to be operated upon, the several parts being shown of about their normal size. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the press-bed, gage, and shaper of about their normal size, the upper portion of the press being broken away. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the press-bed, gage, and a die in position, the other parts being omitted. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a die of substantially normal size. Fig. 5 is a section thereof on the dotted line in Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the die edge on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of the bed, gage, die, and shaper in operative position. Fig. Sis an enlarged front elevation of a shaper, part of its shank being broken away.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan and an elevation of the opposite ends, lips, or shaper-dies of a certain class. Fig. 11 comprises like views of the shaper-dies of another class. Fig. 12 comprises like views of the shaper-dies of the dies shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, which are of a different class from those shown in either Figs. 10 or 11. t

A is a suitable base upon which a standard 2 is erected, having arms 3, in which a reciprocating spindle 4 is mounted with a supporting-spring 5, said spindle having a head of suitable construction to form a member of a ball-bearing or other antifriction device, substantially as shown. A rotating presser-shaft 7 is suitably mounted in an arm 8 in such manner as to create the other member of a ball-bearing, being rotated by the lever 9 to apply force to or remove it from the spindle. This spindle is guided in its vertical movements by a slot and pin 10 and is suitably adapted to receive the stem 11 of the shaper 12. Upon this shaper are suitable lips or die arms, severally marked a, Z), c, d, e, and m, as each of these differs in form from the others and is adapted to be used for a separate and distinct purpose. All of the dies are beveled crosswise, the lips a I) being of unequal thickness, the lips c and 0% being also beveled lon gitudinally, creating their longitudinal lipfaces, the lips e and m being also rounded to create curved faces of unequal width. The lip a is adapted to be used for matrices of the t B, ((D, 41,77 CKJ, (P, (S, (11,77 tic, {5d,7? f, (11,77 (i, (J37 (k,$7 (1,77 4 m, Kin, (C1), [61,, and 4b,, and numerals 1, 2, 4, and 5. The lip b is used for matrices of the capitals E, C F, (11,77 C(I{,77 (L77 (BI)? (N777 (R) the lip c forcapitals B, P, R,and S, small letters g, 0,77 (K ,7? (S,,7 (S u, nu nerals C 3, I 5,77 6, 8, 9, and 0. The lip (Z is used for matrices of the capitals C, D, G, O, Q, and U. The lips 6 and m are used for matrices of the capitals A, K, V, and \V, small letters v, w, and y, and the numeral 7 that is to say, the lips 61. and b are straights of two sizes, 0 and (1 rounds of two different sizes, and e m are slants of two directions, right and left, wherefore the shape of the point, head, or nose of each lip is of the proper shape to fit into the space between the base of each dam and the side of the intaglio of a character, sign, or symbol, as capitals, small letters, numerals, &e. The lips a and I) are also used with substantially all of the punctuation-marks, while the rounds c and (I are used with curved brackets or parentheses.

In operation a shaper-lip is set in position, raised a little, a matrix B laid on one side against the guide 13, the nose of the lip entering above the dam 14, and then by operating the lever the lip is forced down, and its beveled face will swage the dam from the inside into its normal shape and true it up between the lip and the bed. By this means the dam is trued up by the compression of the metal, and the flat base will prevent too much compression and consequent distortion or change of thickness of the dam, operating solely to restore it to its original or normal condition, as it was before it was ever used, all without in any manner affecting the matrix proper or intaglio of the letter or character.

Any suitable style of press may be used, as also any equivalent of the screw-thread for applying power.

For convenience the shaper-lips are shown in pairs upon one shank, and when one has been used upon its class of characters by loosening the set-screw the body can be turned to bring the other into position for use.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The combination with a solid bed having a plane surface and a plunger, and means to reciprocate it toward and from said bed, of a die removably mounted upon said plunger, and comprising a body, and a laterally-projecting die-arm, having a slanting working face, and adapted to be inserted into the cavity of a linotype matrix-die and separately swage the respective dams upon the sides of said cavity between the die-arm and said bed and upon a line transverse to said cavity.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of May, 1898.

HARTWELL MORSE, A. B. BROWN. 

